Yamaha MG 6FX, MG16 External Effects, Monitor Mixes, and Groups

Making the Most Of Your Mixer

MG16/6FX 13

External Effects, Monitor Mixes, and Groups

4-1. AUX Buses For Monitor Sends and

Overall Effects

There are a number of reasons why you might

want to “tap” the signal ﬂowing through your

mixer at some point before the main outputs: the

two most common being 1) to create a monitor

mix that is separate from the main mix, and 2) to

process the signal via an external effect unit and

then bring it back into the mix. Both of these func-

tions, and more, can be handled by the mixer’s

AUX (Auxiliary) buses and level controls. If the

mixer has two AUX buses, then it can handle both

functions at the same time. Larger mixing con-

soles can have 6, 8, or even more auxiliary buses

to handle a variety of monitoring and processing

needs.

Using the AUX buses and level controls is pretty

straightforward. The only thing you need to con-

sider is whether you need a “pre-fader” or “post-

fader” send. AUX sends often feature a switch that

allows you to conﬁgure them for pre- or post-

fader operation.

Pre/Post—What’s the difference?

pre post

A “pre-fader” signal is taken

from a point before the

channel fader, so the send

level is affected only by the

AUX send level control and

not by the channel fader.

Pre-fader sends are most

commonly used to provide

monitor mixes.

A “post-fader” signal is

taken from a point after the

channel fader, so its level

will be affected by both the

AUX send level control and

the channel fader.

Post-fader sends are most

commonly used in conjunc-

tion with the mixer’s AUX or

effect returns for external

effect processing.

Pre-fader send for a monitor mix. The send signal is fed to the monitor power ampliﬁer and speaker system.

The channel fader does not affect the send level so the monitor mix remains independent of the main mix. No

return signal is used in this case.

Post-fader send for external effects processing. The send signal is fed to the external effect unit—a reverb

unit, for example—and the output from the effect unit is returned to the AUX Return jack and mixed back into the

main program. The send level is affected by the channel fader so the effect level always remains in proportion to

the channel signal.

Channel

Fader

Master

Fader

AUX Send

Level

AUX Send Level AUX Return Level

MG16-6FX.book Page 13 Saturday, January 25, 2003 10:13 AM